The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-26
WILHELM'S FORTUNE TOLD
BY A GYPSY MAID In 1858 RE-
PEATED By
Countess Erdody, Who Says He VIM
Live TO Be Ninety-six
Years Old.

LONDON, March ga number OF
anecdo'es are related concerning Em-
peror Williams long life and the pos
sible number OF years still left to him.
One, illustrating popular superstition,
is worth repeating. 1t is TO the effect
that at the time OF the Furstentag at
Frankfort in 1888, King William, one
day walking in the neighborhood of
Baden Baden, accompanied by Herr
vjn Bismarck and a number OF ladies'
and gentlemen, passed a gypsy hut.
One OF the ladies exclaimed, "That is
where the famous gypsy girl Precioss
tells fortunee." The party, who were
In walking dresP, entered the hut and
had their fortunes told in succession,
the King. whose identity had been
concealed, coming last. Pieciosa held
his hand long while in silence, and
then said, 81 see q great crown,
great victories and great age.
You will live ninety-six years,
but your last days will bring many
troubles and much sorrow." The
X ng forgot all about the prophecy
until '84, when at ball at the Rms
8 an Embassy in Berlin the Hungarian
Countess E,dody, whose mother WAS
Tasigane, was presented 10 him.
Dor ng the conversation 1t was incl
dentally mentioned that the Countess
possessed the gift Of chircmlncy. The
Emperor held out his hand; the
Countess, after examining it eravely,
said: Your Msjesty il destined to
live ninety.six years." The Bmp eror,
1t is added, was much struck by the
coincidence. According TO the Vienna
Tdgblat, physici ans OF the Emperor
have declared that he has no organic
failing, and that there is nothing to
prevent him from attaining the ega of
100, provided he takes care If him
SELF Bat this is just what he does
not do. According to authentic sta
tistics, there are at present In the
Kingdom OF Prussia no lees than 5000
persons over ninety years OF age. Six
hundred OF them are ten years older
taan the Emperor. Ia all parts Of Prus.
sia there are plenty Of peopl9 between
ninety and ninety.fve. The oldest
are to be found in the Provinces of
Posen, East and West Prussia. Ger
tain important results are discernible
ia the picture Of social gsyety in Ber-
lin. The Emperor's intimate relations
with the representative OF Austria
and Italy demonstrate the correctness
OF the report concerning the triple
alliance between Germi any, Austria
and Italy. The Times in speaking OF
the triple ALLIANCES briefly sums up the
situation thus: "The relations be.
tween Austro. Hungary and Russia
have certainly been critical OF late, AID |
there havs not been wanting grounds |
for experimenting that the peace OF |
E1lope might be menaced by the Goa.
clusion Of an understanding between
France and Russia. But the renewal
OF the alliance between Germany,
Austro- Hungary and Italy on the basis |
more or less clearly d2fiued OF mutual |
defense in csrtain ntiDgeucies has
iudisputably strengthened the secur.-
ties for the maintenance OF peace.
l. seems to bs thought in Fraucs
that the renewal Of this ALI |
snCe is inimicsl to French |
Interests. 1t is difficult to understand |
how this can be the case unless France |
really oherishes designs which have
been constantly dissvowed. No doubt |
France would be tempted to seek her
own advantage If Germany were
drawn into war with another power.
But 1t Is no disadvantage to France to
be screened from this temptation, ex-
cept on the hypothesis that she really
desire5 war. The C'ss OF Russia is
different. II Ia plain that
Russia desires the attainment of GER
tain o. jec!s in Bulgaria. and that her
interests are directly opposed to those
Of Austro- Hungary. II the two pow
ers stood alone a collision of their re-.
speCtva interests would constitute a
serlons meuacs to the peso OF Europe,
But Austro-H Hungary no longer stands
alone, Germany on the one hama and
Italy on the other stand beside her.
The military ttrength OF Russia, vast
rs itie,must needs recoil beiore such
continuation |